The Presidential Fitness Test Was Humbling.
I’m Glad It’s Back.

During the last year, I have been taking physical therapy twice a week, every week. I had a very serious accident a year and a week ago, breaking many bones, needing a complete shoulder replacement and having a plate lock my other wrist for five and a half months. Multiple pelvic fractures meant three months in bed, all muscles just going away, much to my dismay. I have been working very hard to try to get back to my previous reasonably fit condition, for a 70+ year old. Two years ago, I biked 1,000 miles during the summer months. Two days ago, I got on the bike for the second time in a few days, and was able to do about four miles, a fraction of the 14 mile normal route that I used to do three or five times a week. I know how slow it is to build up muscles, I've been doing it. My therapist keeps telling me "this is a marathon, not a sprint" as I always try to do more, which doesn't help, unfortunately. I can relate to her taking eight weeks to build up to two pull ups. Bravo for her getting a trainer and sticking to it. It's slow, but you can get more fit. It takes months and months of work. I used to think someone who "hired a trainer" was a fool, why "anyone can do it". After many months of watching my PT guy give me exactly the right new exercise to build up the specific muscles which were needed next, time and time again, I see the value of a truly trained pro helping you do a strength building program in a structured way. I found that my PT guy has a MS and doctorate in physical therapy, about 8 or more years in college, and I've come to really respect his skills. So, yes, the Presidential Test is a good thing, and the schools should teach the kids how to do these different events. They can learn, they can improve. And so can us older adults. I WAS fit, so didn't pay a lot of attention, other than a bit of workout on the bike and my rowing machine. Now that I have been very, very unfit, I am seeing that you can work back, but it isn't easy. If you are unfit - give it a shot, it isn't quick or easy, but with some good guidance you can become more fit, and I think you'll like it. This is good for the kids, and we adults should take that to heart.

Mom and I counted one day when I was doing paperwork for my first security clearance. From kindergarten to high school graduation I went to 16 different schools. Of those sixteen, I was offered that test exactly zero times. There were kids here and there with the patch on their jacket but very few. It was more of a mythical test than a real one. I wanted to give it a shot but nobody seemed to have it.

I am way, way past school age but I'm certain I could best ninety percent of the little porkers that I see being driven to and from the school bus today by their parents. Training for a test is not necessary if you make it a way of life.

Oh the horrible memories this article brings back. I never was and never will be athletic. I hated everything physical. Phys Ed classes were mandatory in high school and we just got 1/4 of a credit. You needed to take it all four years of high school to complete one whole PE credit. My strongest memory was the mile we had to walk around the track. I was the last one in. A group of girls only did 3 laps, pretending they'd done 4. I did 4. I was a bit of a nerd. Never outgrew it either. I only shined in one activity, ready for this, tag football. The kids today spend their lives in front of a screen and I honestly think bringing back mandatory PE is a good idea.

Lol. I was a C athlete, too. I always got a C in Phys Ed. Luckily I got enough A's to keep me on the honor roll. I hid behind the other girls in dodge ball, couldn't do the bar hang to save my life, and I caused the head cheerleader to break her arm in a tumbling mishap! We were required to take Phys Ed from 7th through 10th grade. I was so happy when I reached the 11th grade.

Hey # 5 - you took out a cheerleader. You're a hero in my book. lol

I hated that test with a passion. I was born with a physical handicap, so most of the test elements were difficult if not impossible for me to do, and it was downright embarrassing to be forced to attempt them and fail miserably. The only one I could do well was sit-ups. In fact, I hated PE so much that when I was in 8th grade I actually contemplated sticking my foot under a tire as my mom backed the car out of the garage so that a crushed foot could get me out of class. Fortunately, I thought better of it. Probably would have had some lasting consequences, and these days I have enough trouble walking as it is.